Tension-release, thread holder, and cutter.



R.K.HOHMANN. TENSION RELEASE, THREAQ HOLDER, AND CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED )ULYh 1915.

Patented May 9, 1916.

S H EET l R. K. HOHMANN.

TENSION RELEASE,THREAD HOLDER, AND CUTTER.

' APPLlCATlON H LED IULY l, 1915.

1,182,273. Patented May 9,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A Milliang willing' @Wifi/www5: r v 17 STATES Parnu fr onirica RICHARD, K.v HOHMNN,` OF BLVIDEREQ ILLINOIS.-

Ale it lmown that l, Rumano K. HOH- MANN, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of' Belvidere, county of Boone, State `of Illinois. haveinvented certain new and` useiul Improvements in Tension-Release. Thread Holders, and Cutters, ofv

which the following is a specification.`

If'l`his invention ,relates to sewing machines andtlias particular reference to means for holding` the thread at the time that the op erator has finis-lied one piece otwork and' chaujzes` to a, new piece.

lt includes means for controlling the tension on the thread and also means for gripping: and l'n'ilding,r thethread to prevent the needle. .froinL lie-coming accidentally threaded andin order tosupply suiiicient tlireadfoitthe first stitch when thenew materialy is being operated on.

*According to the invention the tension mechanism is disabled, or in other words, the tension is removed fronnthe 'thread as the presser bar carnving` the presser-foot is raised and the tension is not again applied to" the `lthreada until the needle bar `ap-` prmiellesthe lower limit ot its downward incitement. The thread is thustree and has no tension `on it in makinar ,the first part of the i fst stitch. According Ito my invention, furve-ermore, there is provided means for gri 'ping'the tree end of the/thread on the lovwrpai't of the presser bar so as to hold it iiriiilv after` the presser bar has been raised "i andthe machine Ais not in operation and this gripiiing means released b v the downward movementoi" the' needle bar at Substantially the saine.l time that the tension is again applied.

fl`he`uovel-ieatures of the invention will be apparent from the following.description taken in connection with tlie drawings. y

dln the drawings, Figure 1 is a face view ofithe head ot'ga sewing ma(` line partly broken `away showing an embodiment of my invention: Fig. 2 isiasimilar view with the fparts in aldifl'erent operative position: Fig. is alsoa similar view with the parts in stillHanotlier` posit.ioii:`l"ig. ehis an enlarged "detail view of a portion of the presser bar with the `parts carried thereby.; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the presser i bar 4showing `the grip-ping mechanismiat `righty angles to what is shown in Fia'.` Jr: Figgn `is a vertical section through the presser bar on the line (3m-(lof Fig.l 5;

`handle 23.

`end of the projection 3U.

" TENsIorN-RLEASE, THREAD nomma AND CUTTERh Fig. T is an enlarged detail wiew of the i ping mechanism on the lower part ottlge presser har; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the tension mechanism.

head 10 of a sewing machine which may be which is carried on the end of the rotar shaft H driven in the usual manner. i

sliding block is secured to the needle bar at its upper endand travels in the guideway 16s() as to keep it in proper alinement. The presser bar 1T carries at its lower end the usual presser toot 18 and the link 19 pivoted at 20 bears on its upper end and is pushed downward h v the spring pressed plunger :21. The presser bar 17 is raised in the usual manner h v the lifter .22 having the (i)n t-lie face plate Z-l of the head '1u tension mechanism 25 is placed and as shown in Fig. 8 this tension mechanism embodies the plate '26 and the movable plate 2'? pressed inward b v the spring 2S surroundinelr the shaft .Zl which has a projection extending inside, of the tace plate 24. A pivoted lever 3l is secured to the fixed part of the frame and one end of it is made with an inclined surface immediately above the When the lever 31 is' turned on its pivot the inclined face presses on the projection 30. thus moving `the pin l and the plate 2T away from the plate 2li. thus releasing the tension.

The lever 31 which disables the tension. as above' indicated. operated when the presser bar 17 is raised.v When the'lifter 2Q is turnedto raise the'presser bar it raises the. sliding,r member 3'2 which `has at its lower end a foot 33 extending outward over the upper end of the` lifter 22.' This sliding member 32 has a` horizontal part 34 at the top which bears against the under sur- .t'ace of the part 35 which is pressed downward by the coil spring 36 Surrounding the upper part of the presser har. The part At has secured to it the downwardly extending part 37 which is provided with an opening 3S through which the end ot the lever 31 extends. lVhen` tliereore the part 32 is lifted by the act of lifting: the presser bar, the lever 31 is engaged hy the depending part 3T and is turned on its pivot `so as to t Patented May, 1916.'

Application illed July 1, 1915. Serial No. 37,553.

6U ln the drawings I have illustrated the u disable the tension mechanism as above indle bar slides and which forms a fixed part of the machine. lVhen the spring'f) is thus in engagement with the upp er edge of the sleeve it will hold the part .3,5 in upper position, thus holding the tension mecha-` nism in 'inoperative or disabled condition. The presser bar 17 may then belowered without lowering the part since it .twillstill be supported by'spring 39. VVhenthe needle bar descends in the next operation'of the machine .the lower corner of the v'sliding block 15 will engage the inclined surface.' the spring 39 as the needle reaches the force of gravity Iand the influence of'tlie spring 2)(3. 'hcn they-descend tlie-pivoted lever 3l will be turned out of engagement with the projection 30 and thus the tension" will againlie applied to the thread. On the lower, part oi the presser bar I mount the clamping niecliaiiisni 42 and this mechanism, as shown in Fig. 7, being'secured to the presser bar 17, by means of the screw 423, and it embodies a .fixed member 44 and a pivoted member 45, the jaws of which two members are lvieldingly pressed together. v The part 45 is pivoted at 4G and has a cut-away portion along which the spring wire 47 extends. rlliis spring wire. when pressing against the side ofthe plunger 48 tends to keep thc two members 44 and 45 together so as `to clamp the thread between them. The' plunger 48 extends parallel to the presser bar '17 Jfor soine dis tance above the gi'ipl'iing nicaiis 42 land is then bent oiitwai'dyand engages the lower end of the vertically sliding member 32 at 49, so that it will be lil'ted as the part 32 mores upward. This iilunger 48 has a notch 50 .cut iin its side so that when the plunger is at its` lowest position this notch will lie opposite the .spring wire 47 and that wire will enter tbc notch, thus relieving the pressure on the clamping nieniliers 44. and 45, assliown particularly in Fig. (3. lt will be observed that the bend 5l of the plunger 48 is iii'in'iediately below the lower end ol' the part 37 so that it will he pressed downward by that part as it moves in a downward direction.V

ln connection with the clamping members 44. and 45 I make use oi a knife 52 across whichthe free end oi the thread may be drawn to'sever it when the operator has iinislied with one piece ot work. The knife or thread cutter 52 andthe clamping jaws 44 and 45 are mounted on the same bracket stitch. -tension is on the thread at the beginning needle .frequently becomes unthreaded Y we because thereA is not sufficient k friction to limit oi' its movement andwil-l1'disengagieiy that spring troin the to i of the sleeveekand' thus allow the parts to deseend'iunderfthe.f"

which is secured to the, presser bar 17 and.

the cutting edge' ofthe knife 52 extends transversely of the planes ot' the opposed faces of the clamping members 44 and From the above description it will 'be yapparent that in operation the tension ,bn the thread -will be released when the presser foot is raised andthe thread will be gripped and held bythe gripping means 42 so' that the needle will not be likely to become iinthreaded before the operation is commenced on another piece of goods. Then the next operation is commencedtension will not be on the thread until the needle has almost completed its downward stroke in the first lt is well known that where the draw. the threadv through the tension mechaniw'mand" it willvconsequently be drawn throughthelneedleeye Ain case the needle bar is not in its highest. zposition.:when the precedingwork is finished. It will further be observed that the'wope-ration ofthetension and gripping mechanism isai'itomatic.'

f ',wHa-ing'j.describediny inventiony what I claim and desire to secure 'by Letters-Patent-iss s s Y 1. In a sewing machine, the combination vwith a needle bar, of tension mechanism,

means for disabling said tension mechanism vand'means operated'byfthe needle'bar as it descend'sfto `restore I,saidl tension mechanism to'operative,condita ,l j

2. ln a sewing machineythe combina-tion with a 'needle barao'teiision mechanism, means for disabling said "tension mechanisin, a catchfoi' lholding said tension mechanism in disabled condition, and means ol'wrated' by the needle bar as it descends to release said catch and restore said tension mechanism to operative condition.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a presser bar. of means for raising it,

a needle bar` tension mechanism, means for automatically disabling said tension mechanism as the presser bar is raised. andl means for autonriaticalli1 restoring said tensioni mechanism to operative condition as the needlel bar descends.

.4; In a sewing machine, the combination with a presser bar, of means for raising it, a needle bar. tension mechanism, means noi'- mally inactive on the lower part of said presser bar for gripping the thread. Ymeans ior automatically disabling said tension nieclianism and bringing said ripping mechanism into operative condition as the presser bar is raised to itsupper position, and means for automatically restoring said tension mechanism to operative condition as the needle bar descends, and means for disabling said gripping mechanism.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination VYineans xvherebywthe tension' mechanism is .restored to operative condition when the ...45 10. In a sewing machine, the combination .with a presser bar, ofmeans for raisingit, a needle bar, tensiony mechanism, meansy opu erataifby thepresserbar 'as `it is raised to its 'Klipper` positionto disable said tension mechanism, a` catch for retaining said tension mechanism in disabled condition, and means operated bv the `needle 'bar in itsdescent ifor ieleasing `said catch `andV restoring f saidtension mechanism.V y A In a sewing machine, the combination with 'a *presser bar, ylof means for raising it,

-said`presser bar Afor Agripping the thread, A, means for "rendering said gripping means y operative when the presser bar is raised, and z5.

means `for renderingsaid gripping means inoperative whenr the needle bai',descends. 8. y'In a sewing machine', the combination of a presser bar,` tension mechanism, a lifter "Nforraising thepresser bar and simultanesa` l release the tension on the thread, and means oiisly" operating said tension mechanism to topkeep the i tension mechanism released `when said lifter is operated to lower the f' presser bar.

9. Ina sewingmachine` the combination ofa presser bar, a needle bar. tension mechanism, a lifter for raising the presser bar and simultaneously operating said tension ,mechanism to release the tension` means for reciprocating said needle bar vertically, and

needle bar has *almost completed the next downward stroke after the presser dbar hasbeen lowered.

ofapresser bar, a needle bar, means for reciprocating said needle bar, tension mecha' nism, a lever for raising the presser bar and simultaneously operating said tension mech anism to release the tension, means whereby said tension mechanism'` may be kept re- .leased while said needle bar, is raised and after said lever operatedtolower the presser bar, and means whereby the tension mechanism is rendered operative when the needle bar descends.

`11. Infa sewing machine, the combination l' of a presser bar, a needle bar, means -for reciprocating said' needle bar, tension mech- `anism, thread gripping r mechanism, independentof said tension mechanism, means :for raising said ypresser bar, and simultaneouslv actuating `said tension and, gripping .mechanisms when the needle bar is in'jsed .position,.;,s`ofas ito release. the tension and grip thethreadv when the presser bar` and `needle `loar,areQraised, and means whereby the tension mechanism and gripping mechanism are operated when the needle bar de'- scends, so as tov set the tension and release thehold of the gripping mechanism.

l2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needlebarfofmeans for actuating the saine. a normally inactive thread gripping device, means for setting said grip- `ping device to grip the thread and means for automatically operating said device to render it inactive and release the thread when the needle bar descends.,

1?. In a sewing machine, the combination of va presser bar, a needle bar, means for actuating said needle bar, means for lifting said presser bar, normally inactive gripping means rendered operative to grip the thread 'when said presser bar is lifted, a catch for retaming` the gripping means. in gripping 'position and means operated by the needle liar in its descent for releasing saidcatcli and restoring said gripping mechanism to its normally inactiveposition.

14. In a sewing machine, the combination of a presser bar, a'needle bar, a normally y inactive gripping device mounted on said presser barfmeans for lifting said presser bar and gripping device and rendering the gripping device operative to grip thread, and means whereby'th'egripping-device is A maintained 'in its gripping condltion until after the presser .bar is lowered and means operated bythe needle bar as it descends to `restore the Vgripping device to its normal and inactive condition.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination of a presser bar, a needle bar, a normally inactive thread gripping device, means for raising the presser bar and simultaneously ceasing said gripping device to operate to grip the thread, means lto prevent the oper- -ation of said gripping device when the presser bar is lowered, and means for restoring the gripping device to its normali)7 inactive condition when the needle bar descends.`

16.4 In Va sewing machine, the combination of a head or casing, a presser bar and a 4needle har projecting out of the casing, a

normally l inactive gripping device outside the casing near the outer end of the needle bar, means for raising the presser bar and simultaneously actuating said gripping device to grip the thread, means for retaining said gripping device in gripping condition, and. means operated by the needlebar in its descent for restoring said-gripping .device to its inactive condition. v

17 In a sewing mac me, the combination of a presser bar, a nee e bar, a ippin 'deA u vice, a tension device, a mem r sli abeV lalong the presser bar, a' leve'forlifting said slidable member and the presser bar, a connection between said shdable member and grlpping device to actuate the latter, means t ative condition.

whereby the tension device is actuated when the slid-able member is raised, a. spring catch associated with said slidable member and adapted to retain the tension device in released condition and to retain the gripping l device in gripping condition when said lever is operated to lower the presser bar and a device movable with the needle bar adapted to disengage said 'spring catch to release said slidable member to set said tensiondevice and restore'said gripping device to inoper- 18. In asewing machine the combination f cia presser bar having a presser foot, a noryzo mallv inactive thread clamping device comprising two substantially similar coperating jaws mounted on said presser bar above the presser foot, means for raising the presser bar and'simultaneously actuating said clamping device, and a' thread cutter carried by said presser bar and associated with the clamping device.

19. In a sewing machine, the combination of apresse'r bar, thread gripping means comprising a bracket mounted on said presser barand a pair of jaws mounted on said- `bracket and adapted to grip the thread be` tween them, means for raising the presser bar, and means whereby one of the jaws is moved relatively to the other to grip the thread whenvthe presser bar is raised.

20. In a sewing machine, the combination of a presser bar, thread grip1'ng means comprising clamping members mounted on said presserI bar andadapted to grip the thread between them, one of said' clamping members being pivoted and having a resilient member associated therewith, means for raising thev presser bar, and means adapted to he actuated when the" presser bar is raised to engage said resilient member and swing the pivoted clamping member to grip the thread between said clan'iping members.

21. In a sewing machine, the combination ot' a presser bar, thread gripping means mounted on said presser bar and comprising a bracket secured to the presser bar andtwo clamping members mounted on said bracket, Said members having opposed faces adapted to grip the thread between them, means for yraising the presser bar, means for actuating' the thread gripping means, and a thread cutter onv said bracket'an'd associated with the thread gripping means and havin cutting edge extending transversely o the planes of the opposed aces of said clamping members.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

RICHARD K. HOHMANN.

its 

